Y’all the political strategy mind games ate in this. 👀

What a crazy conclusion to this trilogy. I’ve written reviews for the other two books in this series and my thoughts remain the same - Chloe Gong in masterful at crafting epic stories full of action, politics and characters with a hunger like no other!

Thankyou to Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an eARC go the Eyes of Kings!

I am so so sad this trilogy is now over. Chloe Gong has written an intricate story that really urges you to keep on reading. I would recommend this to everyone interested in fantasy novels

I absolutely loved how this trilogy came together, and this conclusion left me feeling both satisfied and a little emotional about saying goodbye to these characters. The political intrigue, shifting alliances, and constant power struggles kept me hooked, with the tension building beautifully toward the final battle. I especially loved seeing Calla and Anton’s relationship develop, even with all its complicated and toxic edges. August and Galipei were easily one of my favorite parts, and I absolutely loved their chemistry and the emotional depth of their relationship. The expansion of the lore and introduction of the gods added another fascinating layer to the story and made the world feel even bigger. There was a lot happening, but I enjoyed the twists, betrayals, and unexpected turns that kept me guessing. The final part of the book was particularly gripping, and once everything started coming together, I found it very hard to put down. The characters remained the heart of the story for me, and I loved seeing their individual journeys reach their conclusions. The ending was heartbreaking but felt completely fitting for the story, and it left me with so many emotions. Overall, this was a thrilling, intense, and memorable finale that I truly loved and that gave the trilogy a conclusion I was very happy with. Thanks to Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for this ARC.

4.75 stars (rounded up to 5)

Honestly, I’m feeling sad that this trilogy is now over. Eyes of Kings delivers a thrilling and emotionally devastating conclusion to what has been an incredible fantasy series. The political machinations, the strategising and everything was top notch. There were so many moments that elicited a visceral reaction from me. I’ve always loved Chloe Gong’s writing and this book was no different. I loved how she does not shy away from showcasing how brutal and violent power struggles can be. She has some of the best depictions of political strategising and the effects of war I’ve read in a book.

It was kind of obvious where things would go, given the og source material, but when things happened, they happened in a way that leaves you so utterly shocked. Like my jaw was on the floor. The best parts of the book are in those last few pages when everything we’ve experienced across the entire series comes to a head. So many plot threads, that started all the way back in book 1, get wrapped up neatly. In typical Chloe Gong fashion, there were a lot of twists in this book, some that I was able to guess and some that I could never have predicted. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book and the overall plot was a confirmation of exactly why I ended up picking this series. It’s a worthwhile read that everyone should try!

Now that the whole trilogy is out, I definitely want to reread the series from the beginning and experience every single thing from the start, and also see how much foreshadowing I can pick up on. All in all, Eyes of Kings was a perfect conclusion to this series. And I don’t know if there’s going to be any spinoffs/novellas set in the world, but the potential is there, and I sure wouldn’t mind one.

Chloe Gong does it again with her finale of the Flesh and False Gods trilogy.

Look, I love Chloe Gong. I love Shakespeare. Most importantly, I love when everyone is just a little bit evil and Eyes of Kings really hit the nail on the head for all three here. She really has a talent of weaving stories that we already know, and know well, and makes it feel brand new, engaging and entirely her own. I loved the crux of the political strategies that we've seen throughout and how everything really came together.

I feel betrayed, hollow, and will be eagerly anticipating the next series that she writes.

Thank you to Chloe Gong, Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for this eARC in return for an honest review.

An absolutely epic, heartbreaking ending to this trilogy. Chloe Gong has outdone herself with Eyes of Kings, and I will be thinking about these characters for years to come. Every seed that was sown in the last two books finally comes to fruition, along with twists and reveals I never saw coming. I'm devastated and ruined by this, but satisfied at how it ended.

WOW! Chloe Gong has done it again. This was so so good! I loved everything about this. I am 6 weeks postpartum and haven't been able to focus on any books as I'm in a reading slump and busy with a newborn but this pulled me right out of it!! So good.

Chloe Gong delivers chaos and heartbreak for the final time in the kingdom of Talin.

The fight for the crown of the kingdom of Talin is nearly over. Calla Tuoleimi wears the divine crown. At her right sits Anton Makusa, whose blind loyalty to Calla might just be his downfall. They are not out of the woods yet, given that August Shenzhi will not go down without a fight.

Losing the throne and the support of most of his kingdom is August’s worst nightmare come to life. Additionally, his most loyal guard, Galipei Weisanna, still has not recovered from their last encounter with Anton and Calla, and he is left with no choice but to join forces with Sinoa Tuoleimi, Calla’s predecessor. This unlikely alliance is not one built on trust, but need. After all, they both have the same goal: To rule over Talin.

As old gods find their way back to Earth looking to reclaim their territories, the fight for the crown of the kingdom suddenly has more than two camps. That is, if there even is a kingdom left to rule at the end of this war.

Personally, I loved the shift from an action-based book like Immortal Longings — with fast-paced scenes centered around the king’s games in San-Er— to a more politically focused plot in Eyes of Kings. I also really enjoyed the gradual growth of the world throughout the book, starting in the twin cities of San-Er to the setting expansion into other provinces within the kingdom of Talin. While we explored them in Vilest Things, in this installment we find out who they are backing in this war, their thoughts about the rulers of Talin, and what they are looking to gain from this conflict.

As I mentioned before, Eyes of Kings doesn’t have as many action scenes as its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean that the story is stagnant. This book reads like a chess game with the characters always moving towards a bigger goal.

One aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is that these characters are truly morally grey. There are no heroes or villains. They all manipulate and kill people with no regard, as long as they are able to reach their end goal of ruling Talin. At the end of the day, each of these characters has a motivation and a reason why they want to rule. While some reasons are better than others, the end doesn’t justify the means.

Over the years, we have seen Chloe Gong explore different genres and topics in her books, but one thing has remained consistent: her ability to deliver a plot twist. It was very easy to see the story was headed, very similar to that feeling of impending doom where you know what will happen but the execution of how it happens is very different from any idea you could’ve come up with. And in my opinion, that is the best way to write a plot twist.

While I understand that there were many story arcs to end, I do wish we had seen a little more of the dynamic between August and Galipei in this book. Their dynamic in this book was so scrumptious and I could not get enough of it. Calla and Anton’s relationship has been fast paced and obsessive since the beginning, but it reached new heights of blind devotion in this book, which was interesting to read amid the revelations and trials these characters were going through.

Although I am sad to say goodbye to this series, I don’t think Chloe Gong could’ve written a more beautiful and devastating ending worthy of the messy world of Talin

Eyes of Kings is hitting bookshelves on August 4th, 2026, and the final installment of the Flesh & False Gods Trilogy is not one you want to miss.

Thank you Hodderscape for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

this is an epic conclusion to the scifi trilogy with action packed political plot, a civil war brewing and characters who are messed up to the point that you won't know who to root for and who is capable of betrayal.

calla and anton, my icon, their messy, chaotic and toxic relationship is everything, their relationship, alliance and twisted love continues to occupy the spotlight (but but this is not a romantic story). however beyond that the slow unraveling of the mystery, the true identity and alliances of every character will keep you hooked and on your toes.

chloe ily but please don't do this to me ever again (actually do i love you)

Chloe Gong never disappoints. This was so worth the wait !

The beginning puts you right back into the story and the prologue oh you’ll never make me hate her.

I feel like this part of the story was more character focused. Everyone was figuring themselves out and reflecting on their past and present relationships.
As much as I love Calla and Anton, I’m so happy August and Galipei got more pagetime. We really got to see the depths of Galipei’s devotion and how August handles it, handles being known so intimately, he who closed himself off to everyone, including Anton.

What I especially love about Chloe’s writing in this trilogy, is how she builds her world and her plot outside of what the main fours know. She’d give us povs from side characters or even just random ones that you may wonder why they’re here, why we’re seeing this but then it makes sense. Even in the finale we still get more informations and I loved learning about Talin’s gods and how they fit in the story and about Sinoa and the godling of greed.

Every war must have a victor but honestly here I couldn’t pick one side and I would have been devastated no matter the outcome (which if you know a little about Cleopatra you can guess). I had hope till the end that Chloe would have tricked us like she did in the past but no such luck. Tears were shed.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. Chloe Gong is a genius! In Chloe's own words, I absolutely zoomed through Eyes of Kings in less than 48 hours despite work and other responsibilities as I simply found myself unable to put it down, just being amazed by Chloe's brilliance. However, that is also probably why it took me this long (it has been maybe 2 weeks since I finished reading...) to sit down and write this review because how do I even put my thoughts into more comprehensive views than my initial review: "chloe gong is evil" (which is a point that still stands).

From this point forward, expect explicit spoilers for the previous books in the Flesh and False Gods trilogy. and some implicit/minor spoilers for Eyes of Kings.

Eyes of Kings opens into a Talin that is now caught between the power struggles of its new king, Calla Tuoleimi, and its old king, Calla's cousin August Shenzi, who refuses to accept he has been dethroned. But mortal powers are not the only ones conspiring in this struggling kingdom, but instead, the old gods are waking up again. Not to mention that the original inhabitor of Calla's body, the reborn queen Sinoa Tuoleimi, has revealed herself to be racing for the throne in the body of Otta Avia, Calla's age-old rival. So, all in all, we have the building blocks of a complete disaster that cannot end well in our hands, right? (And remember, Chloe Gong is and has been evil!!)

As Eyes of Kings is the culmination of a story in the works for years, it interweaves every thread of every story Chloe has sown into the first books. Finally, anything that did not make sense before is perfectly clear. To me, all of it was worth the wait. I admit, I was frequently confused during the previous books with parts that were not quite explained but I had trust everything would be resolved and so it is, brilliantly. I find it hard to put into words eloquently but Eyes of Kings makes Immortal Longings feel incredibly small, in a good way. I never expected Chloe to take things quite this far but I am so happy she did. She really surprised me with the twists and turns and that is a rare thing to achieve (not in a braggy way, I just have a habit of guessing plot twists too early, which actually annoys me). Hence, I can't help but be amazed by her mind.

Before I conclude this review with something substantial, I want to talk about how well Chloe brings her characters to life. Each and every one of them feels real, solid, vivid, even the minor characters. Each of them has a purpose, individually and in the bigger picture.You are simultanously on everyone's side and against them. (On that note, thank the fuck for Galipei for finally growing some balls!!) Their relationships are so beautiful, in their fragility and messiness and everything else. And well, I do not think I need to spend too much time on the main two romantic relationships of the series or even the familial bonds, we all know how well written they are by now, but let me say how much I adore Chami and Yilas (Chloe is always giving us such great sapphic relationships <3). Also, I guess this is the best place to say it, but seriously, thank you Chloe Gong for normalizing different forms of asexuality and gender wonkiness, I truly appreciate it so so much, all her books feel like a refuge in that aspect.

And that concludes the spoilery stuff, I think.

To conclude, I adore Eyes of Kings (and Chloe Gong's mind). I am not even sorry for how long this review is, I'm already making it as concise as possible. Be glad you do not know me IRL, my (former) coworkers have probably heard me talk about this book more than my friends in the past month ahaha (but I worked in a library so it is fine...) I need everyone to read this ASAP and need my physical preorder in my hands yesterday. Lastly, my regards to August Shenzi for Calla stealing his month like this but what can I say, some people are born for greater things than others.

Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape & NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions and views expressed are my own.